+ Cat Friendly Clinic
Designed to reduce stress and make your visit with your cat a pleasant one
+ BVSC Cat Accredited
BVSC is a Gold Standard ISFM cat accredited hospital
+ Cat Friendly Consult Room
BVSC even has a 'cat climbing gym'
+ I-131 Treatment
The most effective treatment for hyperthyroidism in cats

 + BVSC is a Cat Accredited Hospital

Cats are very special and wonderful.  We know that coming to the hospital can be a very traumatic event for them and for their Mums and Dads.  Cats require feline specific care and at BVSC that is what they receive.

BVSC is a cat accredited practice with the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM).  This means we have met the strict criteria of facility and equipment standards as well as mandatory education of all our staff focusing particularly on how to approach and handle cats gently with care.  Since we all love cats, we dedicate energy to continue to learn more about them and benefit from resources provided by the ISFM so our understanding of cat behaviour and cutting edge feline medicine and surgery improves the quality of life for the cats we treat.  We believe cats are family and deserve the best care.

BVSC I 131Feline

We understand that there are unique difficulties in bringing a cat to a veterinary clinic:

  • Cats often do not travel well and feel unsafe away from their home
  • They are highly sensitive to new sights, sounds and smells
  • Most cats prefer quiet and solitude and are highly susceptible to stress
  • Most cats are highly stressed by nearby dogs in the clinic
  • Cats need to be handled gently and with respect in the clinic

BVSCCatFriendlyIcon + What is a Cat Friendly Clinic?

An accredited Cat Friendly Clinic has reached a higher standard of cat care in that the staff:

  • Understand the needs of cats and have made visits to the vet clinic more cat friendly
  • Understand how to approach and handle cats gently and with care
  • Have good knowledge and equipment to manage the care of cats

Achieving Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation involves all staff, from receptionists, nurses and technicians, through to vets. Each accredited clinic also has at least one ‘Cat Advocate’ – someone who ensures the cat friendly standards are adhered to, and who would be happy to talk to you.

+ What does it mean for my cat and me?

 A Cat Friendly Clinic gives you peace of mind and reassurance, letting you know that:

  • The clinic has achieved certain minimum accreditation standards
  • The clinic and clinic staff have thought about the specific needs of cats
  • The staff will be happy to talk with you, show you what they do, and show you around the clinic
  • The staff will explain your cat’s treatment and recovery clearly and sensitively so that you have a full understanding of what is going on

+ What does it mean to have cat accrediation?Momoko ItoBVSC

Staff at every accredited clinic have promised to handle and treat cats with understanding, gentleness and respect, and to make every effort to make the visit to the clinic as stress-free for you and your cat as possible. Staff are required to maintain and update their knowledge on clinical matters and continuing professional development (CPD) is a Cat Friendly Clinic criteria.

If you have any questions or concerns about your cat and BVSC, please ask a member of the staff who will be pleased to help. Additionally, if you have concerns about any of the Cat Friendly Clinic criteria being met at BVSC, please ask to speak with the Cat Advocate, Momoko Ito.

+  What to expect when you visit BVSC with your cat

  • Most new patients are seen at the Specialist Clinic but you may also be asked to take your cat to the Animal Hospital.Both have separate cat friendly waiting areas and Feliway is dispersed in our cat specific areas (www.feliway.com/au).
  • Our friendly client service team members will help you and can provide you with a towel sprayed with Feliway to cover your cat carrier.This will give shelter for your cat and ease stress in the waiting area.If there is anything else you need just ask our helpful team.
  • In the waiting areas, benches are provided to place your cat in their cat carrier so they are not on the floor or you can choose to keep them on your lap in their carrier.
  • Cats are protected from seeing other animals which can be disconcerting for cats.
  • Check out our cool climbing wall in the cat only consulting area. Great for those inquisitive customers but it is OK for the less outgoing feline patients to sit quietly in their safe place as well.Our staff know how to make your cat feel as comfortable as possible.

+   What if my cat needs to be admitted to the hospital? Are there special areas for cats at BVSC + The Animal Hospital?

  • Both BVSC + The Specialist Clinic and BVSC +  The Animal Hospital have specifically designed and separate cat hospitalisation area. These areas comply with the strict criteria set down by the ISFM.
  • Hospitalised cats are separate from dogs and cannot see other cats.  
  • Feliway is provided and they even have their own cat preferred music playing.

+   I-131 Treatment for cats with Hyperthyroidism

  • At BVSC, we are able to treat a number of cat specific conditions such as hyperthyroidism.  Hyperthyroidism is a very common disease of older cats usually caused by a benign tumour of the thyroid gland. This tumour secretes excessive thyroid hormone and leads to a variety of symptoms including overactivity, heart disease, high blood pressure, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. Without treatment, this disease is eventually fatal. However, at BVSC we can treat cats in the most effective way using our state of the art capsula system for safely delivering I131 nuclear medicine.  This is usually curative.  Go to our I-131 Treatment page to find out more. 

If you would like further information on the Cat Friendly Clinic ISFM worldwide programme go to catfriendlyclinic.org.

To make an appointment at BVSC please call 07 3264 9400 to speak to one of our friendly Client Service Officers.

Cat Ward at BVSC + The Animal Hospital
Cat Friendly Consult Room at BVSC + The Specialist Clinic
Cat Waiting Area at BVSC + The Animal Hospital
Nurse Laura displaying Cat Handling
Cat Palace
Nurse Laura and Cat Advocate Nurse Momoko